Voters bounce two long-term incumbents on Muskegon County board

MUSKEGON COUNTY — The Muskegon County Board of Commissioners will lose two veteran members with a combined 40 years of service.

Bill Gill

County Commissioners Bill Gill and Louis A. McMurray were defeated by challengers in Tuesday’s primary election. Gill, a former board chairman from Muskegon, and McMurray, whose name appears on the county’s transportation building in Muskegon Heights, were stalwarts on the board from two of the county’s urban districts.

In District 8, Anthony Longmire, a jobs-center worker, beat Gill, 374-315. The race was a rematch from 2008, when Gill edged Longmire by 11 votes. District 8 covers much of the city of Muskegon, specifically precincts 4 through 9.

Gill is in his 23rd year on the county board, maybe the longest run in the county’s history. McMurray is an 18-year veteran of the board.

Longmire and Wilkins likely will claim the two-year terms as county commissioners, as no Republicans filed for the Nov. 2 general election in those districts.

Longmire and Wilkins both expressed excitement about the opportunity to join the county board.

Anthony Longmire

“I’m exhilarated,” Longmire, 39, said, explaining that he reads the results as a sign for change. “My hat is off to Mr. Gill. His tenure on the board is to be commended.”

Wilkins, 78, said her 25 years on the Muskegon Heights City Council and time on the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission have provided her with the experience to offer much as a county commissioner.

“No. 1, I was blessed by God,” Wilkins said. “I’m pleased with the results and that the people believe in me.”

In the other contested county board primary races, James J. Derezinski, the incumbent, won a race, and the other contested race was too close to call with 12 precincts still not tallied early this morning.

Derezinski, who has served for nearly eight years as a county commissioner, defeated Ron Hayward, 488-295, in the District 4 race. District 4 covers Egelston Township and the southeastern portion of Muskegon Township. Derezinski likely will earn another two-year term as no Republican opponent filed in the race.

In District 10, Benjamin E. Cross was leading Chris E. Jensen in the Democratic primary by a slim 20 votes, 414-394, with two precincts not yet recorded as of early this morning. District 10 covers parts of Muskegon and Norton Shores and all of Roosevelt Park.

The Democratic winner is set to face Republican Amber Weerstra in the general election.

ELECTION COVERAGE

In the crowded race for Muskegon County drain commissioner, Democrat David Fisher and Republican Geoff Newmyer were the leaders in the primary, with 60 of 72 precincts reporting as of early today. Fisher, the interim drain commissioner, had 1,860 votes and Kevin Gue, the former deputy drain commissioner, had 1,380 votes in the Democratic race. Newmyer, who owns a plumbing business, led the Republicans with 3,811 votes, followed by Joe Ferrier with 2,787 votes.

The winner in the Nov. 2 general election is set to fill the remaining two years of a four-year term as drain commissioner. Democrat Jeffrey Hepler, who was elected drain commissioner in 2008, was disqualified from finishing his term after he was convicted April 30 of filing a false police report.